Machine for working on rails



July 13 1926. 1,592,262

E. A. EVERETT MACHINE FOR WORKING ON RAILS Filed July C50, 1 1 7 Sheets-Sheet l I I $3 x Il n/ 2 N i w h d1@ l @9, Q I g1 n:

July 13, 1926. 1,592,262

E. A. EVERETT MACHINE FOR WORKING ON RAILS Filed July 50, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 13 1926.

1,592,262 E. A. EvERx-:TT

MACHINE FOR WORKING ON RAILS Filed July 30, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

July 13 1926. 1,592,262

E. A. EVERETT MACHINE FOR WORKING 0N RAILS Filed July 30, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 13 1926.

E. A. EVERETT MAGHIE FOR WORKING -ON RAILS Filed July so. 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 n/H f.

idw/HIJA?. 55% @VC/Coz July v13 1926. 1,592,262

E. A. EVERETT MACHINE Foa WORKING 0N RAILS Filed July 50, 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 July 13 1926.

1,592,262 E. A. EvERl-:TT

MACHINE FOR WORKING 0N RAILS Filed July 30, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 IParental,July 13, A1926. l 1,592,2621

. nU 1 \Jl`Tjl -".D STATES OFFICE .c

EDWARD A. EvEREfrn, or LoNG IsL'AND c I'rY,;1 NEW YORK, AssIGNoR To NANDE Con.-4 i EORATIONfA CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK.v

\ l 1 r wy J 1 MACHINE Fon WORKING .oN `RAILS.

, l l v Application led `July 30, 1923. Serial No: 654,789.

This invention relates to machines 'for also, be moved lout from the rail to lit the '55 f Working on rails such asr the rails of a I'ailtool to the work. When the tool has been. Way track,I or -beanis lor glrders used .in fitted to the` work the `friction clutch 1s structural steel, and has for an y-object to brought into engagement by a 'hand llevel provide amachine with a spindle that may and the torque applied to the tool is regu-I' carry a tool for working on the side of the lated by the pressure on vthe friction clutch. 60 `rail er'girder, amachin'e of this type that A separate cylinder is provided for the maybe rolled along the rail from place to arms operating on each side of the rail. 4 place, a machinethat has a working arm `The -machine is constructed along the vcapable ofbeing brought into .position as 'lines disclosed in U. S. Patent1,408,872

. required, amachine that canbe applied to issued in my name on March 7th, 1922. The 65 Work on both sides of the rail, a machine in machine is mounted upon rollers fory rolling f which the working tool is driven through it along the rail or track These rollers a. friction clutch, a machine whichi is 0p-` have eccentric bearings for adjusting the erated by power and in which the force-apheight of' the machine which isbalanceJ plied to the working tool is regulated by a andlis symmetricalabout the centre line s .0 vmanually operated lever and a machine that Iit may be turned around with either which is `adapted forA tightening boltsf armonieither" side ofthe rail. wWhen re- These and` other objects of the invention\ moved from the. `track the operating arms y will be more fully understood from thefolmay be turned into a horizontal position so lowing specication land the accompanying that the machinemay stand .-on theground 75 drawings Vforming a part ofthe speciiicawithout obstruction. When used for ,worktion, nand in which'Fig.' 1, is a side view of ing on the rail of-a railroad track this ma- Vmy, improved machine in placeon the rail chine is` designed so that it is not rigidly l of a railway track, Fig. 2 is an end elevaconnected. to the rail lwhen it is not being tion of the machine with the front part and operated and thus it can readily be removed 80 Ythe engine removed, Fig. 2a is a detail of by the pilot of a passing train without. the the clutch operating mechansrmFig. 3 is a possibility of accident. L plan view of the machine complete, Fig. 4 s In the drawings 11( represents the\ rail of 3o isa cross-section of the operating cylinder a railway track, 12 and 13 are the splice bars andv spindle mechanism, Fig. 5 is a sectional or angle bars for jointing: the ends of two 35 drawing of the drivingmechanism, Fig. 6 rails, 17 is a. bolt for securing the splice shows therelation of the connecting gears bars in place and 15 is the nut of a similarbetween the -driving ymechanism and the opbolt pointing in the opposite direction.- The erating cylinder; Fig.l 7 4is a plan view of acommon practice is to alternately point the single element machine and Fig'. 8 is a side bolts `in opposite directions for the larger 90 elevation-ofl a single'felement machine. size of rails and to pointthe bolts in the The 'drawings in this application show same/[direction for the'smaller size of rails. the invention applied as a power wrench The bolt is usually provided with an oval for tightening the bolts of a.,rail joint on a neck for which an 'oval holefas indicatedF at railway'track. The machine is driven by a 16`is` provided in the splice bar. 95 gasolene motor which has a shaft parallel The frame of, the machine is indicated at'V with the rail and which, by bevel gears, 21 which extends'parallel with the rail and Y drives a pair of shafts at right angles to the ins supported on` the rollers 22 at each end 45 rail. The latter are provided withfriction which are flangedto -roll along the rail.

,clutches and lsuitable spur gears by which lThese rollers are providedwith -eccentric 10o 'g e the shafts inthe operating cylinders .are bearings. 23 ito provide adjustment for' the driven. An operating arm .is connected height" of the machine above the rail. The with each cylinder provided with a handle Jframe J21 has a T-flange 24 at the top toL by means of which it may be positioned and which the parts of the mechanism. are bolted.

- rotatedthrough an'arc oa circle. -At the The source of power is indicated by the .ins

end of this arm the vwrench or tool is atgasolene motor 25- having the fly wheel 2 6 tached and may be Aswun l opposite anyy to which thegshaft 61 supported in bearing point 1n the side ot the rai the arm may, 62 is secured bythe-flange 63. The upstanddeb ing brackets 27 and 28 are secured to the friction clutch the other side of which is frame at right angles to the rail and supformed by the disc 74.y Preferably a disc or p'ort the driving mechanism. The central bracket 29 supports and encloses the bevel gears of the driving mechanism. 30 and 3l ar'operating cylinders by means of which the operatingitool is driven and directed.

The construction o fthe operating cylinder and tool is shown in Fig. 4. The sleeve 30 is secured in a saddle in frame 21. The plunger 35 slides in this sleeve to theeXtent ofthe slot` 36, and at the same time is free to rotate therein.' A coil spring38 abutting on the end plate 39 tends t'omove plunger 35 outward until stopped by the ring cushion 37. A shaft 40 passes through the centre of the cylinder and is provided With'a spline 41 at one end which is engaged by the key A42 fitting in a key-way in the spur gear 43 which is enclosed by the end plate 44. The opposite end `of shaft 40 has a bearing in hub 45 against Which the end thrust is taken up by collar 46 on one side and by the bevel gear 47 oiLthe other side which is secured to the shaft.

The bevel gear 47 engages the bevel gear 48 secured to shaft 49 which has a bearing in the casing 50. The lower end of shaft 49 carries the bevel gear 51 which engages the bevel gear 52 mounted on spindle 53 which rotates in bearing 54. The spindle 53 carries the tool 55 for operating on the side of the rail and as 'shown in the drawing this tool comprises a bell-mouthedy Wrench for tightening the nut 14 of the rail joint.

The casing 50 is provided with a cover 57 having a socket as shown for the operating handle 58 which terminates in the spade handle grip. f With this construction it will be noted that rotating the spur gear 43 rotates the spindle 53 at a reduced speed at the same time the plunger 35 may be'moved back and forth in sleeve 30 andthe handle58 'may be rotated moving the arm 50 and the spindle 53 in an are at the side of the rail. The spring 38 tends to move the tool 55 away from the rail and thus disengage the mechanism from the rail. l/Vhen brought Ainto operation the plunger 35 is moved by the handle 58 against spring 38 until the wrench engages the nut.

The driving mechanism will be understood from Fig. 5. The Idriving shaft 6lhas the -bevel gear, 64 secured thereto which meshes with the bevel gear 65 rotating on shaft 67 and the bevel gear 66 rotating on shaft 69.

The gears 65 and 6.6 it will be noted rotate\ in opposite directions. The shaft 67 has a caring in the hub'l71 of the central bracket andv atI the outer end yin bracket 28.- Ilhe shaft 69, likewise has abearing in the central in the bracket 27'. The bevelA gear 65 rotates freely on the shaft and has a 'frietionall disc 73 forming one side of a ring of fibrous material is placed between the friction discs as shown to take up the wear. The friction dise 74 is splined to shaft467 by the key 75 .as-shown and is held out of engagement with disc 73 by the coil spring 76 abutting against the collar 68 on shaft 67 as shown. Thus, normally, the friction clutch is disengaged. The spur gear 83 is secured to shaft 67 which forms the means by whichthis gear is driven.

The construction of the opposite side is similar to that just described. The friction dise 78 is, spline'd to shaft 69 by key 79 and is held released by spring 80 abutting on'collar on shaft 69. The spur gear 84 is secured to'shaft 69 and moves integral therewith. The clutch member 74 is provided with a groove 77 by which the clutch members are brought into engagement and a similar groove 81 is provided in clutch member 78.

Then the shaft 61 is driven it is apparent that the bevel gears 65 and 66 rotate idly on their shafts. \When clutch member 74 is brought into engagement with 73 shaft 67 is rotated together with the spur gear 83. Also, when Clutch member 78 is brought into engagement with 72 shaft 69 is rotated together with spur gear 84. The spur gears 83 and 84 rotate in opposite directions and either set of gears may be brought into operation independently of the other set. The torque which is applied to the spur gears Will naturally depend upon the amount of slip in the clutch members which in turn depends upon the pressure with which they are brought together.

The friction clutch is operated by a clutch ring 90, Fig. 2, pivoted at 91 and having a pair of pins 92 engaging the groove in the clutch member according to a `Well known 'v construction-for operating clutches. A vertical handle 93 operates theclutch to the left `which controls the spindle'to the right of the rail and another vertical handle 94 controls the clutch to the right which, in turn controls the tool operating on the, left side of the rail.

The driving mechanism is connected with the operating cylinders by an intermediate gear as-best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The spur gear 83 meshes with the intermediate gear 95 pivoted bya stud in the huh 96 on bracket 28; this gear in turn meshes with the spur gear 43 of cylinder 30. The relation of these gears is shown in the elevation in Fig.

y 6, in one cylinder the gear 43 is located to the 'right ,of the driving gear and in the other cylinder this gear-` is located to the left of the driving gear corresponding to the relation of the cylinders to the driving mechanism. In the same manner, the spur gear 84 meshes with the intermediate gear 97 pivoted on` a stud secured at 98 to bracket 27 the rail and if the work is to be performed onA both sides of the rail the operating tools are placed on both sides With independentl controls and drives for each tool. As shown the machine is symmetrical about its longitudinal centre, each operating cylinder being alike and each side of the driving mechanism being alike and interchangeable. It will be noted that the centre of gravity of the machine falls on the centre line directly above the rail so that it is balanced on the rollersA and can be rolled along the track with comparatively little ei'ort.v

It often happens that the bolts are notv fully driven` up to the head and require a blovsv from a hammer for this purpose before thenut is tightened. A tool is provided on the machine which performs this Work as shown in Figs. -1 and 2. This tool comprises the Weighted head 102supported by the arm 103, pivoted at 104 to the frame 21 and has the lever extension 105 With a pedal at`its extremity. A coil spring 106, Fig. 1, holds the head 102 normally away from the bolt. By the movement of the pedal the head 102 can be used as a hammer which operates in alignment with the bolt head. The lever 105 may, of course, be extended for hand operation.

The headl 102 may be shaped to suit'the head of the bolt; for instance, if the bolt head were hexagon, 102 might be used to prevent the bolt from turning. A tool of this kind is provided opposite each operating arm as indicated at 103 and 103a in Fig. 1. lThe tool 103a is pivoted at 108 to the frame 21 approximately opposite the Working position of the arm controlled by handle 58. The heads 102 are elongated to provide for considerable displacement of the machine on the rail.

A horizontal pipe railing is provided around the machine to` form a convenient.

This railing comprises apair of vertical.`

pipes 111 secured in sockets to one end of the frame and another pair of vertical pipes 112 similarly secured at the other end' o-f the frame. The horizontal rails 113 and 114 are supported by the vertical pipes. In order that the clutch levers 93 and 94 may be conveniently operated by theperson manipulating the handles 58 and 58L these levers are *controlled by remotely located handles as shown in Figs. 2 and 2a. Lever93 is connected by a rod 115 with the handle 116 pivoted to frame 114 opposite handle 58. Also, lever 94 is connected by rod 117 With bell crank 118 and by con nection 119 to handle 120 close to the operating position ofI handle 58a. As shown in Fig. 1, the bell .crank 118 and the handle 120 are pivoted to the pipe railing 112.

ln tightening the bolts of a rail joint by hand a long handled Wrench is used by which the operator obtains considerable leverage on the nut and thetightness of the nut can be gaged by its resistance. which a nut should be tightened varies with the spring in the splice bars, the Weather conditions, the nature of the bolt, etc., and the operator can, by feeling the resistance of the nut determine the degree of tightness desired. The ability to determine by feeling y the tightness of a nut has been preservedin the power operated machine, disclosed in the present invention. The operator when using the machine, directs the tool by the handle 58 and when it has beenproperly. positioned pressure isthen applied to the clutch through the clutch handle. The extent to which this pressure should be applied for the required tightness of the nut can-be determined with a little practice. The double machine is intended to be used by two operators,` one on each side of the machine, controlling an operating arm, each operator being able to carry on his work independently of the other. The single machines are, however, operated by one person and are lightenough to be removed from the rail by one person to clear the track for a passing train. It has been shown tliatthe mechanism drives the spindles of the operating arms on each side of the rail in opposite directions as is necessary to tighten the nuts on both sides ofthe rail. It will be observed that each spindle may operate on thesame bolt; for instance, if the bolt rotated and had a hex head, the bolt and the nut could both. be rotated at the Asame time in opposite directions.` A considerable part of the utility of this machine when used as a power Wrenchrel sides inthe quickness with which it may be brought into action at the points desired. The machine is rolled along the rail until a joint is reached, then the Wrenclrmust be aligned with thev liutwhich `always occupies a fixed position in vthe rail. For tlns purpose the machinel ymoves on its rollersand 'for vertical adjustment the operating arm is rotated about the cylinder. The Wrench, being bell-mouthed readily finds the nut and the spindle automatically centers itself on the nut by the movement of the arm or the movement of the machine on its lrollers or by a combination of these'movements. This condition of centering is also 'aided by the reaction from the spindle which tends to rotate the depending arm about the spindle and which is resisted by the Weightvof the machine. The operating arms are designed to operate in a position inclined to the vertical so that the combined rotary and rolling motion will readily accommodate themselves to the strain on the spindle. This construe# tion is considered superior to splining shaft 49 and making the-y radius of the operating arm adjustable.

The operations described Arelate to the tightening of nuts but it is apparent that this machinewill reverse itsoperation and unscrew nuts by rotating the spindles in the opposite direction. A reversing mechanism has not been provided because it is simpler to reverse the running direction of the motor which, if of the two cycle typewill run in either direction, or if an electric motor drive is used a reversing switch will control its direction of running.

Having thus descrlbed my invention, IJ

claim: l

l. In combination, for operating upon a singlerail of a railway track having splice` bars with a plurality of bolts in said bars witl/r their heads turned kalternately 1n op- -pos1te.directions, a power operated wrench for said bolts comprising a frame with a motor arranged to roll upon said rail, a pair of arms depending from said frame, one on each side of said rail, a wrench socketon each arm arranged to engage said bolts,'driving means connecting said motor with each of said wrench sockets and a manually controlled friction clutch interposed' in each drive.

2. Iii combination, for operating upon a single rail of a railway track havlng splice bars with a pluralityV of bolts, apower op- Y erated wrench for said bolts comprising a framer with a motor arranged to roll upon said rail, a pair of arms depending from said frame, one on each side of said rail, a wrench socket on each arm arranged to engage said bolts, means manually sustained for independently connecting \each socket with said motor and means for normally disconnect-ing Asaid sockets from said motor.

3. InV combination, for operating upon a single rail of a railway track havingmsplice Y bars with a plurality of bolts, a powerl operated wrench for said bolts comprising a frame with a motor and fly wheel arranged to roll u on said rail, a pair of arms depending rom said frame, -oneon each side of said rail, a wrench socket on each arm arranged to engage said bolts, means operatively connecting said wrench sockets with said motor and a viever controlled friction clutch for regulating the tension on each of said wrench sockets.

4. In combination, for operating upon a single rail of a railway track having splice bars with a plurality of bolts, a power operated wrench for ysaid bolts comprising a frame with a motor and y wheel arranged to roll upon said rail, a pair of shafts at right angles to said rail geared to 'said motor and arranged to turn in opposite directions, a pair of arms depending from said frame, one on each side of said rail, a wrench socket on each arm arranged to engage said bolts and manually sustained friction clutches operatively connecting each of said sockets with said shafts.

5. A machine for working on a single rail of a ,railway 4track comprising a frame with a motor thereon, a driving shaft parallel with said rail connected with said motor, a driven shaft at right angles to said rail geared to said driving shaft, a friction clutch associated with said driven shaft, a splined shaft connected with said driven shaft, an arm depending from said frame, a spindle in said `arm arranged to work on the side of said rail and means operatively connecting said splined shaft with said spindle. i

6. In combination, for operating upon a rail 'of a railway track having splice bars with a plurality of bolts, a power operated wrench for said bolts comprising a frame lwith a motor arranged to roll upon said rail, a pair of independent shafts geared to said motor, a pair of cylinders, a pair of arms so arranged that said sockets turn in oppo.

site directions.

7. A'machine for working on a rail of the class described comprising a frame with a motor at one end, a driving shaft connected with said motor parallel`with said rail, a pair of driven shafts in the same axial plane at right angles to said rail' independently connected with said driving shaft, a pair of cylinders located one on each side of said driven shafts, a central shaft in each of said .cylinders connected with said driven shafts and an operating tool connected with each of said central shafts.

8. A machine for working on a single-rail ofthe class described com rising a frame with amotor arranged to roll) upon the rail, a driving shaft connected with said motor parallel with said rail,`a pair of driven shafts" -of arms depending from'said iframe on opposite sides of said rail, an .operating spindle supported by each of said arms and driving \shaft`s in the same axial plane, a bevel gear' connecting said `driving shaft with said Y driven shafts and so arranged that said driven shafts rotate in opposite directions, a pair of tools, one on each side of` said rail and means operatively connecting said tools with said driyen shafts.

10. A machineifor working on a single rail of a railway track comprisingaframe with a motor'balanced upon the rail, a driving Jshaft connected with said motor parallel with the rail, 'a pair of shafts at right angles to the rail geared to saidj driving shaft, a pair of armsdepending from said frame, one on each side of saidrail, a sliding support for 'said arms, La spindle in each arm andn `means operatively connecting said spindles with Said driven shafts so that they rotate inopposite directions.

11. A machine for working on ay single rail of the class described\ comprising -a frame mounted upon `rollers to roll upon the rail, a driven shaft on said frame parallel with said rail, .a'pair of cylinders with depending arms for operating one-upon each side ,of said railand connected with said 'rail line in driven shaft, said machine being symmetrical about its longitudinal centre.

12. In a boltand lnut turningmachine, in

combination; afframe; supporti-ngI wheels revolvably attached to V said frame for resting on a rail; a power generator mounted on :said frame; rwrenches depending from Said frame vone on' each side thereof; means.sup..

porting said wrenches allowing each wrench to describe an arc of a circle and to moveat substantially a right angle' to the rail upon which the wheels rest; means for -driving' and connecting said wrenches with the power generator, all arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal centraline of said frame and about a vertical plane passing `through the longitudinal centre line of the ra-il upon rest. .n y a 13. In a machine for operating upon `the splice bar bolts and nuts of a railJ line,

the` ombination of manually positioned which the supportingwheels wrenches, one disposed on each side ofsaid l giiferent vertical'planesat right angles to thi@J rail line a'ndmeansA for connecting to, supportingv and power operating said wrenches so that one rotates in one direction and the other in the opposite, direc Y tion all symmetrically disposed about a vertical plane passing through substantially the longitudinal centre line of the rail line being worked upon.

Signed at New York in the county of N ew York and State of New York this 10th vday of July A. D. `1923. u

' EDWARD A. EVERETT. 

